Bangkok--9 Jun--124 Communications
While packing for the trip, be sure to consider or bring the following essentials and keep them in a safe and secure place:
2006 FIFA World Cup? match ticket(s) and airline/train tickets.
Accommodation and rail information.
MasterCard provided ‘Destination Germany’ booklet, including information on Fan Fests in each host city.
Passport and second type of personal identification with photo.
Emergency phone numbers (in Germany and in the US).
International telephone calling cards.
Your MasterCard - official card of the 2006 FIFA World Cup?. It is accepted at more than 400,000 merchants in Germany.
Local currency. Alternatively, 48,000 ATMs or cash machines can be found throughout Germany and most accept international credit and debit cards. To find the nearest MasterCard ATM before you get to Germany, go to www.mastercard.com .
Consider getting a pre-paid card, which is a safe and convenient alternative to cash — they are used like credit cards, but are issued with spending limits set by the purchaser.
Lastly, share your itinerary with friends/family back home.
Upon Arriving in Germany:
Be sure to pick up a free copy of the MasterCard Doppelpass/Value Guide, available at any German Tourism Board counter in the airport. Available in 12 versions — one for each host city — the customized booklets are packed with guidance/tips on the most interesting sites, important information about 2006 FIFA World Cup matches and travel options, and over 50 money saving coupons, special offers and discounts for numerous merchant partners.
All major airports have currency exchanges (manned or automated) where you can use your card to get local currency.
Getting Around:
Don’t yet have Euros?: Many taxis accept credit cards, so before entering the vehicle, be sure to let the taxi drier know that you want to use your credit card and he/she will facilitate an appropriate cab or van. This is useful on your trip to and from the airport or hotel if you have not yet obtained local currency.
Save money getting to and from matches via the train: Each host city is linked with the Deutsche Bahn high speed train ”ICE”, one of the easiest and most cost
effective ways to get around Germany. And fans that show proof of 2006 FIFA World Cup match admission tickets can travel cheaply to and from their games between June 7 to July 11, 2006, by buying the Weltmeister-Ticket for as low as 54 Euros.
Other ticket options include the Weltmeister-Pass, providing great savings for those traveling in Germany throughout the five weeks of the tournament (349 EUR for 2nd class and 549 EUR for 1st class), and L?nder-Tickets, which offers all-day travel on weekdays and Sundays in most regions from 9 am until 3 am the following day (prices range from 16 to 27 EUR).
You can buy the tickets in advance from www.bahn.de/fifawm2006 or directly at the ticket machines in the train stations in Germany.
MasterCard Global Service:
MasterCard, the official card of the 2006 FIFA World Cup?, provides emergency assistance to cardholders anytime, anywhere and in any language when they call MasterCard Global Service? toll-free from a land line (0800-819-1040) or from a cell phone using the collect number (1-636-722-7111).
Emergency assistance will be provided for the following:
Report lost or stolen MasterCard credit or debit card
Obtain an emergency replacement card
Obtain an emergency cash advance
Inquire about your account
Cardholders can also enquire about the nearest ATM.
Tipping:
Restaurants: Don't leave tips on the table as it is considered rude. Put the tip on your credit card or leave it for the wait staff when you settle your bill. Round up the bill to the nearest Euro and know 5% is considered reasonable and 10% is for exceptional service.
Taxis: Again, round up the bill to the nearest Euro before applying a tip, which can be paid in cash or as part of the overall credit card transaction.
Service Stations: Attendants typically get no more than a Euro for checking oil and tires or cleaning the windshield.
FIFA 2006 World Cup Fan Fests:
Great option for fun 2006 FIFA World Cup activities without a match ticket:
MasterCard is one of the four official partners of these public viewing areas that have been designated in each of the 12 host cities. Public transport is available to all venues and the free Fan Fests are open 11 am - 11 pm. Fans of all ages will find large screen projection of live matches and re-plays, stage performances, concerts and more.
Additional Money Saving Tips:
Three Easy Ways to Claim a Tax Refund
For all purchases over 25 euros, all non-EU foreign visitors are entitled to claim back the tax they pay on their purchases in Germany.
1. Shop where you see the Global Refund TAX FREE SHOPPING sign (over 40,000 stores in Germany) and simply ask for your refund check.
2. If you leave Germany, show your purchases, receipts and passport to customs officials and have your Global Refund checks stamped.
3. Collect your refund by: getting immediate cash at a nearby cash refund office, the direct crediting of a chosen credit card, a bank check sent to a chosen address, and even, for certain countries, a tax refund when you return home.